Tire FAQs: How to Care for Your Tires

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Tire care is a major part of keeping your Mazda model running for as long as possible. Be sure to make your Irmo drive both safe and efficient by following a few simple tire care tips from Mazda of Columbia. If you still have questions, be sure to swing by our service department!

Q: How do I check my tire tread?

Tire tread is important, as running on low-tread or bald tires can be dangerous. It can also put you at risk of blowing a tire, which can be expensive, damaging, and dangerous. However, checking tire tread is simple and easy. To check, here’s all you do:

1. Turn the penny so Lincoln’s head is upside down.
2. With Lincoln’s head now pointing into the tire, insert the penny between two treads.
   

If you can still see the top of Lincoln’s head, it means your tire tread is too low, and it’s likely time to get new tires. Luckily, the tire center at Mazda of Columbia has you covered!

Q: How do I check my tire pressure?

Driving with under-inflated tires can cause major problems for your vehicle. On the performance end, you will have a hard time turning and braking with optimal precision, and your fuel economy will decrease as well.It can also cause your tires to wear down more quickly than they should and making them go out much sooner than they would otherwise.

On the sidewall of your tires, you’ll find their recommended PSI (usually between 30 and 35). Stop at a gas station with an air pump, and fill up the tires to the recommended air pressure. If you’re uncomfortable doing this on your own, the Mazda of Columbia service team will take care of your tire pressure check and inflate your tires for you the next time you bring your vehicle in for an oil change or other routine service.

Q: How do I change a flat tire?

If you get a flat tire, you may be covered under the generous Mazda warranty program, but if you aren’t covered, then you’ll need to know how to change a flat tire. Here’s what you need to do:

1. First make sure you find a safe spot off of the road that doesn’t put you at risk. Put your hazard lights on, and make sure the parking brake is activated.
2. Get out of the car, and apply the wheel wedges, remove the hubcap, and loosen the lug nuts.
3. Place the jack under the car, and raise the vehicle.
4. At this point, you’ll need to unscrew the lug nuts so you can remove the flat tire.
5. From here, mount the spare tire and tighten the lug nuts.
6. Lower the vehicle partially and re-tighten the lug nuts before lowering the vehicle all the way.
7. Replace the hubcap, put all your equipment away, and double check that the spare tire’s pressure is correct.

Afterward, you’ll want to get your vehicle to a maintenance shop to get a new tire put on as soon as possible. Spare tires are only a temporary fix and are not built to be driven on longterm.

Q: Why is it important to rotate my tires?

Tire rotations are an essential component of tire maintenance. As you drive your vehicle, your driving habits tend to wear down the tread on certain tires more quickly than others. When you get your tires rotated, this helps ensure that the tires wear down more evenly over time, which both improves the performance of your car and helps extend the life of the tires.

Tires can be a bit pricey, so in order to get as many miles out of them as possible, it’s important to take care of them. The easiest way to do that is to get tire rotations every several thousand miles or at the very least every other time you get an oil change. Since this is a procedure that involves special equipment, you’ll probably want to schedule an appointment to have this done when the time comes.

Get Your Vehicle Serviced in West Columbia Today

Now that you know the basics, you can do it yourself or schedule your next tire service for your vehicle here at Mazda of Columbia! While you’re at it, make sure you check out our current service specials in order to take advantage of any deals we’re currently running around Irmo and Lexington. Our dealership is located at 665 Broad River Road in Columbia, SC, so stop on in or contact us today. Stop by our dealership to find out which Mazda accessories are right for your Irmo drive or learn more about replacing the dead battery in your Mazda key fob, how to jumpstart a car, or how many miles tires last.

Need help finding the perfect car, crossover, or SUV? Our team can help you compare models like the Mazda CX-5 vs. Subaru Forester to help you find out.

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